In 1992, Dublin company The Passion Machine brought to Edinburgh a play
called Studs, about a no-hope soccer team. West of Ireland companies
Yew Tree and Island evoke a similar atmosphere in this account of the amateur
Munster team's historic 12-0 victory over the All Blacks in Limerick on
Hallowe'en 1978.

The rugby scenes themselves are fairly Godberesque, but frankly there
aren't that many ways you can show on a stage. The cast of six (including
one woman) switch rapidly but without confusion between the Irish and Kiwi
teams, the crowd, a bunch of Limerick kids building a bonfire for that
night, a woman giving birth, and Munster captain Donal Canniffe's father,
who died at home whilst listening to the (untelevised) match on the radio.

John Breen's writing and direction keep matters lively throughout a
playing time only slightly longer than the match itself, and although the
subject matter may seem on the parochial side, the human interest and David-and-Goliath
aspects ensure a more than agreeable time.